We were lucky to catch up with Julia D’amelio recently and have shared our conversation below.

Julia, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

It was 2023. I was half way through my Doctorate in Clinical Nutrition program when I found myself unfulfilled, stuck, and stagnant. I was a full time student balancing night classes with clinical hours, while also working for my family business nearly full time in an office job. At this point I had been in college for nine and a half years, growing tired of the student role, and feeling sorry for myself that I worked behind the desk of a funeral home, and not in an well renowned nutrition clinic. I thought to myself, “How many days am I going to let pass before finding the courage to change my life?” While I was in school for my Master’s Degree years prior, I worked part time at a weight loss clinic as a nutrition counselor. With each day that passed, I wondered how I could get back to this kind of work that had set my soul on fire. I laid in bed one night, on the verge of crying myself to sleep, enabling myself to host the most draining pitty party, fueled by misery and self sabotage. I was spiraling. I thought to myself, “I’ve dedicated almost ten years of discipline and schooling, and what do I have to show for it.” I was upset that I wasn’t yet a success. And that’s when it hit me — when you have nothing, you have nothing to lose. That night, around 2am, I sat up in bed and held my very first informal business meeting with myself. I thought, if I had that same kind of role now as I had working at the weight loss clinic, what would my title be? What type of clients would I see? What would my office look like? I woke up the next day, purchased my website domain, established myself as an LLC, and said goodbye to my very secure weekly paycheck — I quit my job working for my family business. I was living with my parents at the time, and did not have the money, nor clientele, to rent out an office space. I cleaned out a decent closet in the upstairs of my parent’s house, drove to a furniture warehouse to buy a cheap desk, and started my fully virtual private practice. The first year of my practice I saw less than 10 clients, had no networks or reputation, and was hit hard with imposter syndrome. None of that even mattered. What I chose to hone in on was the fact that I was a small business owner, I had a free office space, and I had an income (though very small). I used this time and energy to put together handouts and frameworks that today serve as the foundation of my practice. I poured myself into self-help books, motivational podcasts, and spiritual practices that helped ground me. I took nearly two years off from social events and gatherings, and completed isolated myself from the world. I allowed myself to fully crumble so that I could rebuild myself up again. Since my first year in business, I have graduated from my program, became a board-certified Registered Dietitian and Doctor of Clinical Nutrition, have started taking insurance, and currently see over 50 clients out of my private practice. I have expanded my services from solely one-on-one nutrition counseling to now also booking myself as a public speaker as a nutrition expert. I am weeks away from launching my very own plant-based protein powder brand, and am months away from launching my first 12 week course on healthful eating. Two years ago I took a risk: I quit my job and started a business out of a closet in my parent’s house. I gave up my stable pay check, financial security, and savings. I forfeited my weekends off, time spent with loved ones, and so many habits that I thought were serving me. Had I never taken the leap of faith to start my practice, and learned to let and allow to it evolve, I wouldn’t be where I am today writing this. As humans, we are meant for change, destined to evolve, and in control of when we choose to start. If I could go back in time, to the start of it all, I would tell myself the same thing then that I am constantly reminding myself of now: (1) success doesn’t happen over night, so learn to enjoy the process, (2) mindset and perspective are everything, and (3) nothing changes if nothing changes, so take the first step.

Julia, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a Registered Dietitian and Doctor of Clinical Nutrition. I specialize in weight loss and gut health in the private practice setting. Nutrition sort of just fell in my lap one day. I was in my undergraduate program at the University of Tampa, where I was a writing major, and needed a part time job. I landed a job at a juice bar in South Tampa where I was first introduced to the effects of diet on health. Looking back now, it feels unimaginable that it took until my early twenties to really recognize the impacts of nutrition on health. I was immediately infatuated with the idea that food is medicine. Just weeks before graduating, I had an epiphany that would change the course of my entire life. I looked up careers in the field of nutrition, wrote down the steps I would have to take to become a Registered Dietitian, and immediately moved home to Connecticut to enroll in the prerequisite courses I would need in order to apply to a masters program for nutrition. From there I went on to my Doctorate Program, and ultimately landed where I am today: a clinical nutrition expert, owner of a successful private practice, and most recently, public speaker in my field. My husband and I have spent the past year working with manufacturers to craft a wholesome plant-based protein powder, which we will be launching this Spring. I am most proud of my entrepreneurial spirit, and my fearlessness around starting new projects. If clients and followers could take one thing away from me and my work, it is this: No one is an expert when they’re starting out. So do it scared, give it all you have, and don’t let self-doubt stop you. We are all capable of creating the life of our dreams. My best advice is to get all your goals down on paper, make a list of all the steps you will need to take to get there, and execute. Your only limit is your mind.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Investing my time and energy into the art of self improvement was the most powerful tool I used to succeed in my field and small business. I spent most of my early days journaling, visualizing my goals and accomplishments, outlining the steps I would have to take to get there, and learned to hold myself accountable. I changed many habits, including the things I allow into my body, the people I allow into my circle, and the content I allow into my headspace. This isn’t always easy, but it is the most rewarding.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

The most vital lesson I have learned that helped me move mountains on my life’s map was to learn to not take things so personally. At one point I was taking every idea someone said, wrote, or mentioned to me word-for-word as it was. I have learned that the real key to success stems from focusing on myself. I’ve learned to avoid the distractions by keeping my head down and focusing on improving myself, my life, and my skills. I have learned that resting is productive, and that success isn’t built overnight. It takes time, patience, persistence, and resilience to reach goals. I have learned that mindset is everything, and that we have the choice whether to view life through a lens of positivity or negativity. I learned that healing is lonely, but so is drowning in self sorrow. I learned that with the right people and support around you, you can achieve anything.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.reviveandrenew.co
• Instagram: @reviveandrenew.co
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091134467116
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-damelio/

Image Credits

https://www.agoda.com/travel-guides/united-states/tampa/5-days-in-tampa-a-complete-guide-to-sun-fun-and-culture/